Life cycle assessment: A time-series analysis of copper

Memary, R; Giurco, D; Mudd, G; Mason, L

Life cycle assessment: A time-series analysis of copper

Memary, R Giurco, D

Mudd, G Mason, L

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012, 33 pp. 97 - 108
Issue Date:: 2012-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Memary, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Giurco, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1707-9531	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mudd, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mason, L	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012, 33 pp. 97 - 108	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0959-6526	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/29450
dc.description.abstract	This paper presents a time-series Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to examine the historical environmental impacts associated with copper mining and smelting in Australia from 1940 to 2008. It uses cradle-to-gate LCA models to estimate impacts from the five largest Australian copper mines, incorporating changes in ore grade and differences in technologies and regional energy sources. Using copper as an example of the different life-cycle impacts of metals, this study demonstrates the influence of both temporal and spatial factors. For mine/smelters, results show that the carbon footprint of copper produced at all sites over the time period investigated ranges from 2.5 to 8.5 kg CO 2-eq./kg Cu and the difference between different locations in any given year can be up to 6 kg CO 2-eq./kg Cu. The estimated impact potentials derived from the LCA models for Australia's largest mine/smelter at Olympic Dam are then compared to impacts reported by mine operators for global warming potential and acidification. The results of the LCA analysis indicate the importance of considering time-varying parameters and highlight an opportunity to use LCA models more broadly for assessing future technology and energy options in the mineral sector. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Cleaner Production	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.04.025	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en_US
dc.title	Life cycle assessment: A time-series analysis of copper	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	33	en_US
utslib.for	0907 Environmental Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	0910 Manufacturing Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	33	en_US

Abstract:

This paper presents a time-series Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to examine the historical environmental impacts associated with copper mining and smelting in Australia from 1940 to 2008. It uses cradle-to-gate LCA models to estimate impacts from the five largest Australian copper mines, incorporating changes in ore grade and differences in technologies and regional energy sources. Using copper as an example of the different life-cycle impacts of metals, this study demonstrates the influence of both temporal and spatial factors. For mine/smelters, results show that the carbon footprint of copper produced at all sites over the time period investigated ranges from 2.5 to 8.5 kg CO 2-eq./kg Cu and the difference between different locations in any given year can be up to 6 kg CO 2-eq./kg Cu. The estimated impact potentials derived from the LCA models for Australia's largest mine/smelter at Olympic Dam are then compared to impacts reported by mine operators for global warming potential and acidification. The results of the LCA analysis indicate the importance of considering time-varying parameters and highlight an opportunity to use LCA models more broadly for assessing future technology and energy options in the mineral sector. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/29450